Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

LSB142 Anatomy and Physiology > Respiratory System > Flashcards

Respiratory System Flashcards

1
Q

Organs of the respiratory system

A
  • Nose
  • Pharynx
  • Larynx
  • Trachea
  • Bronchi
  • Lungs  alveoli
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Functional anatomy of the respiratory system

A
  • Gas exchanges between the blood and external environment occur only in the alveoli of the lungs
  • Upper respiratory tract includes passageways from the nose to larynx
    o Serve as a passageway for air moving in and out of the lungs
    o Filter and remove foreign particles for inspired air
    o Humidify and control temperature of inspired air
    o Provide a sense of smell
    o Assist with immune defence
  • Lower respiratory tract includes passageways from trachea to alveoli
    o Passageways to the lungs purify, humidify, and warm the incoming air
    o Gas exchange occurs at alveoli
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Duties of the respiratory system

A
  • Brain will cease to function, and death will occur if deprived of oxygen for 5-6 minutes
  • Provides constant supply of O2 and removing C02 (waste product)
  • Works cooperatively with the cardiovascular system to conduct gas exchange
    o Collectively referred to as the cardiopulmonary system
    o Blood pumped through  acts as transport vehicle for O2 and C02
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Explain features of the nose

A
  • The only externally visible part of the respiratory system
    o Nostrils (nares) are the route through which air enters the nose
    o Nasal cavity is the interior of the nose
    Deep to nostril is vestibular region
    • Contains oily coated nasal hairs (cilia)
    • Cilia trap and prevent particles from entering the nose

o Nasal septum divides the nasal cavity
- Olfactory receptors are located in the mucosa on the superior surface
o Provide sense of smell

  • The rest of the cavity (respiratory cavity) is lined with respiratory mucosa, which
    o Moistens air
    o Traps incoming foreign particles
    o Enzymes in the mucus destroy bacteria chemically
    o Thin walls can cause nose bleeds
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Explain duties and features of the conchae

A
  • Conchae are projections from the lateral walls of the nasal cavity
    o 3 projections (superior, middle, inferior)
    o Increase surface area  by creating 3 different passageways for filtering inspired air
    o Increase air turbulence within the nasal cavity
    o Increased trapping of inhaled particles  by mucous membrane
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Explain the palate (roof of the mouth)

A
  • The palate separates the nasal cavity from the oral cavity
    o Hard palate is anterior and supported by bone
    o Soft palate is posterior, unsupported by bone, composed of soft tissue
     Hanging from soft palate is the Uvula
    • Small mass of CT and muscle fibres
    • Believed to play a role in speech and helps prevent food from entering nasal cavity
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Explain the duties and cavities of the paranasal sinuses

A
  • Cavities within the frontal, sphenoid, ethmoid, and maxillary bones surrounding the nasal cavity
  • Sinuses:
    o Lighten the skull
    o Act as resonance chambers for speech
    o Produce mucus
    o Warm and moisten inspired air
    o Strengthen tone of the voice
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Anatomical features of the pharynx

A
  • Included in both respiratory and digestive systems
  • Approximately 13 cm long
  • Oropharynx (middle section) and laryngopharynx (lower section) serve as common passageway for air, food and liquid
    o Epiglottis routes food into the posterior tube, the oesophagus
  • Pharyngotympanic tubes open into the nasopharynx (upper section)
    o Drain the middle ear
    o Due to this connection  ear infection can cause an upper respiratory infection
  • Only air passes through the nasopharynx
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What are the tonsils

A
  • Tonsils are clusters of lymphatic tissue that play a role in protecting the body from infection
    o Pharyngeal tonsil (adenoid), a single tonsil, is located in the nasopharynx
    o Palatine tonsils (2) are located in the oropharynx at the end of the soft palate
    o Lingual tonsils (2) are found at the base of the tongue
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is the function of larynx

A
  • Commonly called the voice box
  • Functions
    o Routes air and food into proper channels
    o Plays a role in speech
  • Triangular shaped and located inferior to the pharynx
  • Made of eight rigid hyaline cartilaginous plates
    o Thyroid cartilage (Adam’s apple) is the largest
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is anatomy and functions of epiglottis

A
  • Found between the roof of the tongue and the larynx
  • Spoon-shaped flap of elastic cartilage
  • Protects the superior opening of the larynx
  • Routes food to the posteriorly situated oesophagus and routes air toward the trachea
  • During swallowing, the epiglottis rises and forms a lid over the opening of the larynx
    o Prevents substance from entering the trachea
    o If food or liquid enters trachea  cough is triggered to expel substance before entering lungs
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What are the vocal folds

A
  • Located within the larynx
  • Lined with a mucous membrane which folds to form the vocal cords
  • True vocal cords
    o Vibrate with expelled air
    o Allow us to speak
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are the glottis

A
  • Includes the vocal cords and the opening between the vocal cords
    o Gives vocal cords room to vibrate to produce sound
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Anatomical features of the trachea

A
  • Commonly called the windpipe
  • 4-inch-long tube that extends from the end of the larynx to the 5th Thoracic vertebrae
  • Walls are reinforced with C-shaped rings of hyaline cartilage
    o Anterior Rings - Contains rigid cartilage and prevents trachea from collapsing
    o Posterior Rings - Do not contain cartilage, flexible, allow cartilage to expand
  • Lined with ciliated mucosa
    o Cilia beat continuously in the opposite direction of incoming air
    o Expel mucus loaded with dust and other debris away from lungs to larynx and pharynx
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the main bronchi

A
  • Formed by division of the trachea
  • Each bronchus enters the lung at the hilum (medial depression)
  • Right bronchus is wider, shorter, and straighter than left
  • Bronchi subdivide into smaller and smaller branches
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Main portions of the lungs

A
  • Occupy the entire thoracic cavity except for the central mediastinum
  • Apex of each lung is near the clavicle (superior portion)
  • Base rests on the diaphragm
  • Each lung is divided into lobes by fissures
    o Left lung—two lobes (superior, inferior)
    o Right lung—three lobes (superior, middle, inferior)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What are the pleura

A
  • Serosa covers the outer surface of the lungs
    o Pulmonary (visceral) pleura covers the lung surface and dips into fissures
    o Parietal pleura lines the walls of the thoracic cavity
    o Both secrete fluid which allows for gliding movements during respiration
  • Pleural fluid fills the area between layers
    o Allows the lungs to glide over the thorax
    o Decreases friction during breathing
  • Pleural space (between the layers) is more of a potential space
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is the bronchial tree

A
  • Main bronchi subdivide into smaller and smaller branches
    o Primary Bronchi  Secondary Bronchi  Tertiary Bronchi  Bronchioles
  • Bronchial (respiratory) tree is the network of branching passageways
  • All but the smallest passageways have reinforcing cartilage in the walls
  • Bronchioles (smallest conducting passageways)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What are the respiratory zones

A

o Respiratory bronchioles
o Alveolar ducts
o Alveolar sacs
o Alveoli (air sacs)—the only site of gas exchange

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Describe features of the alveoli

A
  • Limited amount of gas exchange occurs in the respiratory bronchioles
  • Main sites of gas exchange within the lungs
  • Millions make up the bulk of the lung tissue
  • Simple squamous epithelial cells largely compose the walls
  • Alveolar pores connect neighbouring air sacs
  • Pulmonary capillaries cover external surfaces of alveoli
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Describe the air-blood barrier

A
  • On one side of the membrane is air, and on the other side is blood flowing past
  • Formed by alveolar and capillary walls
  • Gas crosses the respiratory membrane by diffusion
    o Oxygen diffuses across membrane of alveolar sac into the blood
    o Carbon dioxide enters the alveoli sac from the blood ‘
  • Gas exchange occurs rapidly because:
    o Large surface area of the lung (unlimited number of sites for gas exchange)
    o 02 and C02 only travel from RBC  capillary wall/membrane  alveolar wall/membrane
     Membranes are very thin, thus allowing particles to move freely
    o Gas always diffuses from area of high concentration to area of low concentration
     C02 is high within the blood but low within lungs
     02 is high within the alveolar sacs but low within blood
  • Alveolar walls are composed of very thin squamous epithelial cells
    o Internal surface is coated by surfactant
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Duty of the Alveolar macrophages

A
  • Add protection by picking up bacteria, carbon particles, and other debris
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Duty of the surfactant

A
  • Coats gas-exposed alveolar surfaces
  • Secreted by cuboidal surfactant-secreting cells
  • Reduces tension in the alveoli and prevents them from collapsing
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Functions of the respiratory system

A

o Supply the body with oxygen

o Dispose of carbon dioxide

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Four events of respiration

A

o Pulmonary ventilation
o External respiration
o Respiratory gas transport
o Internal respiration

26
Q

Pulmonary ventilation

A
  • Mechanical process that depends on volume changes in the thoracic cavity
  • Volume changes lead to pressure changes, which lead to the flow of gases to equalize pressure
  • Boyles Law
    o States that the volume of a gas is inversely proportional to its pressure

o At rest  Both atmospheric and pressure within the lungs = 760 mm Hg
 When equal  lung volume does not change, therefore there is no airflow
o For lungs to take in air  pressure within lungs must be less than the atmospheric pressure
o For lungs to expel air  pressure within lungs must be greater than atmospheric pressure

27
Q

2 phases of pulmonary ventilation

A

o Inspiration = inhalation
 Flow of air into lungs
o Expiration = exhalation
 Air leaving lungs

28
Q

Impacts of inspiration

A
  • External intercostal muscles contract
    o Lifts ribs upward and outward
    o Expand thoracic cavity
  • Diaphragm muscle contracts downwards and flattens
    o Expand thoracic cavity
  • Intrapulmonary volume increases as lungs expand
  • Gas pressure internally decreases
    o While expanding  pressure falls below atmospheric pressure thus creating a vacuum
     Vacuum (sucking air into lungs) continues until intrapulmonary pressure equals atmospheric pressure
29
Q

Describe expiration

A
  • External intercostal muscles and diaphragm relax
    o Decreases space within the thoracic cavity
  • Does not occur muscle contraction
    o Normal expiration is a passive process
    o When asthma or mucous accumulation restricts passageways or during exercise  it becomes an active process
     Forced expiration can occur mostly by contraction of internal intercostal muscles to depress the rib cage and expel air from the lungs
     At the same time, abdominal muscles contract to push air out
  • Largely a passive process that depends on natural lung elasticity
  • Intrapulmonary volume decreases
  • Gas pressure increases to approximately 763 mm Hg
    o When pressure exceeds atmospheric pressure  air is expelled
  • Gases passively flow out to equalize the pressure
30
Q

Describe intrapleural pressure

A
  • The pressure within the pleural space) is always negative
  • Major factor preventing lung collapse
  • If intrapleural pressure equals atmospheric pressure, the lungs recoil and collapse
31
Q

What factors affect respiratory capacity and what volume can they hold

A 
o	Size
o	Sex 
o	Age 
o	Physical condition 
healthy adult lungs = 6 L of air
32
Q

What is the tidal volume (TV)

A

o Normal quiet breathing
o 500 ml of air is moved in/out of lungs with each breath
o Volume of air inhaled within a normal breath

33
Q

Static lung volume

A
  • Measures only volumes
  • Can be used to determine whether a deficiency or disorder exists
  • A person performs a series of breathing manoeuvres
    o Initially, person is told to breathe normally for at least 6 breaths (provides measure of tidal volume)
    o Then, person breathes in as deeply as possible to measure the IRV
    o They then breathe out as deeply as possible to measure ERV
    o By adding together, the TV, IRV and ERV the Vital Capacity can be calculated
34
Q

Inspiratory reserve volume (IRV)

A
  • Amount of air that can be taken in forcibly over the tidal volume
  • Usually around 3,100 ml
35
Q

Expiratory Reserve Volume

A
  • Amount of air that can be forcibly exhaled after a tidal expiration
  • Approximately 1,200 ml
36
Q

What is the residual volume

A
  • Air remaining in lung after expiration cannot be voluntarily exhaled
  • Allows gas exchange to go on continuously, even between breaths, and helps keep alveoli open (inflated)
  • About 1,200 ml
  • By adding together, the Vital Capacity and the Residual Volume
    o Total lung capacity can be found
37
Q

Vital capacity

A
  • The total amount of exchangeable air
  • Vital capacity = TV + IRV + ERV
  • 4,800 ml in men; 3,100 ml in women
38
Q

Dead space volume

A
  • Air that remains in conducting zone and never reaches alveoli
  • About 150 ml during normal tidal breath
39
Q

Functional Volume

A
  • Air that actually reaches the respiratory zone and contributes to gas exchange
  • Usually about 350 ml
  • Respiratory capacities are measured with a spirometer
40
Q

Examples of of non-respiratory Air movements

A

o Cough and sneeze—clears lungs of debris and dust from lower respiratory tracts and upper respiratory tracts
o Crying—emotionally induced mechanism
o Laughing—similar to crying, emotionally induced
o Hiccup—sudden inspirations, irritation of the phrenic nerves to cause the diaphragm muscle to spasm
o Yawn—very deep inspiration, need for increased oxygen in the lungs

41
Q

Gas exchange through diffusion examples

A

o External respiration is an exchange of gases occurring between the alveoli and pulmonary blood (pulmonary gas exchange)
o Internal respiration is an exchange of gases occurring between the blood and tissue cells (systemic capillary gas exchange)

42
Q

External Respiration

A
  • Oxygen is loaded into the blood
    o Oxygen diffuses from the oxygen-rich air of the alveoli to the oxygen-poor blood of the pulmonary capillaries
    o Always more oxygen within the alveoli than the blood
  • Carbon dioxide is unloaded out of the blood
    o Carbon dioxide diffuses from the blood of the pulmonary capillaries to the alveoli and be flushed out of the lungs during expiration
  • Dark-red, deoxygenated blood flowing through the pulmonary circuit  bright-red oxygenated blood flowing through the systemic circuit to the heart
43
Q

Oxygen transport in the blood

A

o Most oxygen travels attached to hemoglobin molecules and forms oxyhemoglobin (HbO2 )
o A small, dissolved amount is carried in the plasma

44
Q

CO2 transport in the blood

A

o C02 is 20x more soluble than 02
 Most carbon dioxide is transported in the plasma as bicarbonate ion (HCO3 – )
• Important at buffering the blood pH
 C02 is enzymatically converted to bicarbonate ion within the RBC’s
• Newly formed HCO3- diffuse into the plasma
• A small amount is carried inside red blood cells on hemoglobin, but at different binding sites from those of oxygen

45
Q

CO2 diffusion requirements

A

o It must be released from its bicarbonate form:
 Bicarbonate ions enter RBC
 Combine with hydrogen ions
 Form carbonic acid (H2CO3 )
 Carbonic acid splits to form water + CO2
 Carbon dioxide diffuses from blood into alveoli

46
Q

Internal Respiration

A
  • Exchange of gases between blood and tissue cells
  • An opposite reaction from what occurs in the lungs
    o Carbon dioxide diffuses out of tissue cells to blood (called loading)
     In blood, C02 binds with water to form carbonic acid  quickly releases HCO3-
     Most of the conversion from carbonic ions to bicarbonate ions occurs inside RBC’s
     Bicarbonate ions diffuse out into plasma  then transported
    o Oxygen diffuses from blood into tissue (called unloading)
     02 is released from Haemoglobin to enter cells
  • As a result of these exchanges
    o Venous blood in systemic circulation is much poorer in oxygen and richer in carbon dioxide than blood leaving the lungs
47
Q

Neural centers that control rate and depth

A

 Medulla
• Sets basic rhythm of breathing and contains a pacemaker (self-exciting inspiratory center) called the ventral respiratory group (VRG)
• Inspiration Centre stimulates the diaphragm and intercostal muscles
o Achieved by efferent nerve impulses sent through the phrenic and intercostal nerves
o As lungs fill with air  stretch receptors in the bronchioles and alveoli prevent over inflation of alveolar sacs
o Send nerve impulses to medulla via the vagus nerve to start exhalation
 Pons
• Smoothes out respiratory rate
• Coordinates transition from inspiration to expiration

48
Q

Physical factors influencing respiratory rate and depth

A

 Increased body temperature
 Exercise
 Talking
 Coughing

49
Q

Volition influencing respiratory rate and depth

A

 During singing and swallowing breath control is important
 Many have held breath underwater to swim
 Limited and respiratory centres will ignore attempts to control breathing when 02 supply in blood is low or blood pH is falling

50
Q

Emotional factors influencing respiratory rate and depth

A

Fear, anger, and excitement

 Panting when frightened  result from emotional stimulus acting through centres in the hypothalamus

51
Q

Impact of CO2 levels on respiratory rate and depth

A

 Central chemoreceptors constantly monitor changes in cerebrospinal fluid pH
• Decrease indicates high level of C02 within body
• When detected  stimulate the brains inspiratory centre by sending impulses via the vagus and glossopharyngeal nerves
• Inspiratory centre increases the rate and depth of breathing
• Result is a fresh supply of oxygen and lowered C02 levels
 When metabolism increases  oxygen consumption increases, and body produces more C02
 The body’s need to rid itself of CO2
• Only chemical which can cross the blood brain barrier
 Increased levels of carbon dioxide (and thus, a decreased or acidic pH) in the blood increase the rate and depth of breathing
• Also lead to more hydrogen ions in the body  cause pH of CSF to decrease
 Changes in carbon dioxide act directly on the medulla oblongata
 C02 is the main chemical driving force behind respiration

52
Q

Impact of oxygen levels on respiratory rate and depth

A

 Changes in oxygen concentration in the blood are detected by peripheral chemoreceptors in the aorta and common carotid artery
• Also, mildly sensitive to changes in the C02
 Information is sent to the medulla

53
Q

Hyperventilation

A
  • Rising levels of CO2 in the blood (acidosis) result in faster, deeper breathing
  • Exhale more CO2 to elevate blood pH
  • May result in apnea and dizziness and lead to alkalosis
54
Q

Hypoventilation

A
  • Results when blood becomes alkaline (alkalosis)
  • Extremely slow or shallow breathing
  • Allows CO2 to accumulate in the blood
55
Q

Normal respiratory rate

A

eupnoea

o 12 to 15 respirations per minute

56
Q

Hyperpnea

A

o Increased respiratory rate, often due to extra oxygen needs (e.g., when exercising)

57
Q

Apnoea

A

o Cessation of breathing

58
Q
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
A

o Exemplified by chronic bronchitis and emphysema
o Shared features of these diseases
 Patients almost always have a history of smoking
 Labored breathing (dyspnea) becomes progressively worse
 Coughing and frequent pulmonary infections are common
 Most COPD patients are hypoxic, retain carbon dioxide and have respiratory acidosis, and ultimately develop respiratory failure

59
Q

Chronic Bronchitis

A

o Mucosa of the lower respiratory passages becomes severely inflamed
o Excessive mucus production impairs ventilation and gas exchange
o Patients become cyanotic and are sometimes called “blue bloaters” as a result of chronic hypoxia and carbon dioxide retention

60
Q

Emphysema

A

o Alveoli walls are destroyed; remaining alveoli enlarge
o Chronic inflammation promotes lung fibrosis, and lungs lose elasticity
o Patients use a large amount of energy to exhale; some air remains in the lungs
o Sufferers are often called “pink puffers” because oxygen exchange is efficient
o Overinflation of the lungs leads to a permanently expanded barrel chest
o Cyanosis appears late in the disease

61
Q

Lung cancer

A

o Leading cause of cancer death for men and women
o Nearly 90 percent of cases result from smoking
o Aggressive cancer that metastasizes rapidly
o Three common types
 Adenocarcinoma
 Squamous cell carcinoma
 Small cell carcinoma

LSB142 Anatomy and Physiology (15 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions